Fire-arm



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model:)

W. P. ALSTON.

JFIRE ARM.

N0. 358,915. Patented Mar. 8, 1887.

Witnesses I I QM/J 2 Sheets-Sheet.- 2.

(No Model.)

W. F. ALSTON, FIRE ARM.

Patented Mar. 8, 1887.

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To all whom it may concern.-

UNITED STATES PATENT Farce.

WILLIAM F. ALSTQN, OF \VALKER COUNTY, TEXAS.

FIRE:

ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,915, dated March 8, 188'].

Application filed Nox'embcrfi, 1886. Serial No. 218,300. (No model.)

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. ALSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the county of Walker and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Arms; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to, which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to rifles, the object of the invention being to provide a simple and improved rifle of that class in which bores of different diameters are adapted to be brought into position with relation to the stock, so that each of them may be operated upon by the hammer.

A further object of theinvention is to provide improved means for holding the barrels stationary at the different adjustments.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a'rifle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view from the opposite side. Fig. 3 is a bottom View, and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line m m of Fig. 3.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the stock, and 13 represents the barrels, of a rifle, which are, as shown, of different diameters. Upon the upper and under faces of the barrels at the breech thereof, are provided grooves or recesses a,communicating centrally with which are cross-cuts or grooves b. The barrels of the rifle are centrally pivoted to the stock in such manner thatthey may be revolved to bring either of the bores intoposition to be acted upon by the hammer G, whicl1,with the operating mechanism, is'of anyusual or wellknown construction.

'Upon the under side of the stock A, adjacent to the trigger-guard D, is pivoted a finger-catch, E,which is curved at its rear end to form a convenient finger-hold, awhile its opposite or front end is formed with an integral nib or lug, d, adapted to engage either of the cross-cutsb, to prevent a rotation of the barrels when in their adjusted position.

It will be observed that by raising the finger-catch, the nib or lug at its forward end will be lowered from the cross-cut or groove wit-hwhich it, is in engagement to permit the rotation of the barrel, so that the other bore may be brought into coincidence with the hammer. y

The nib or lug on the front end of the finger-catch is held inengagement with either of the cuts or grooves'bby means of aflatspring, E, which is set in the under side of the stock, and bears against the upper side of the fingercatch at the rear end thereof.

The grooves a areadapted to be engagedby a projecting tongue, 6, which extends from the stock A, and guides and holds the barrels containing the cartridge to be acted upon by the hammer. j

On each side of the barrel-breech and adjacent to the end of the barrel is a shellextracting device, consisting of a metal plate, F, which rests in a recess in the breech and isadapted to have a limited movement therein,

the said plate havingan elongated slot, f,-

which is engaged by a pin, 9, for such purpose; A lug, 73, extends out integrally from the plate to afford a means for moving said plate,while a portion of the latter adjacent to the stock is bent down at right angles to normall y rest in a recess in the end of the breech and extend beneath the flange of the shell. It will be noted that one side of the stock is provided withac pression, j, to at'fordachannel for the eject ent of the shell as the ends of the respective barrels are brought on a line therewith. v

In practice the end of the particular barrel to be used is brought on a line with the recess j, the cartridge inserted, and the barrels then rotated on their pivot, so that the barrel to be used is brought on aline with the hammer, in which position it is locked by the projecting end of the catch entering the recess 011 the face of the other barrel.

I am aware that fire-arms have heretofore been provided with two barrels of different diameter, having a common pivot relative to the stock, and alsothat breech-loading firearms in which the barrel is adapted to be it turned in its pivot for loading and discharging the shell have been constructed with a transverse top and bottom groove adapted to be engaged and braced by corresponding proj eeting tongues at thetop. and bottom of the stock.

' notches or grooves are provided at right anlowing claims.

My invention differs from these previous constructions in that a single projecting tongue is provided at the top of the stock and adapted to alternately engage the transverse grooves as the respective barrels are brought into position for firing, and in that supplementary gles to each transverse groove, and are adapted to be engaged alternately by a corresponding lug on the front end of a catch at the bottom of the stock, the arrangement being such that when one transverse groove is engaged by the tongue at the top the supplementary notch of the transverse groove on the under barrel is engaged by the lug of the catch at the bottom. I am also aware that breech-loading fire-arms have heretofore been provided with a pivoted catch engaging a recess in the under side of the single barrel, to lock the barrel in position for firing. The improved catch comprised in my invention is extended and provided with j a finger-hold in rear of the trigger, and has its projecting lug at the front end adapted to automatically engage the notches intersecting the transverse grooves.

My invention consists, substantially, in the improved construction and arrangement'and combinations of parts, asset forth in the fol- I claim- 1. The combination of a stock provided with hammer and trigger devices and having the forwardly-projecting tongue at its top, the two barrels having a common pivot'relative to the stock and provided upon the upper and under faces of the breech with transverse grooves, each adapted to engage the tongue, and with the notches b, intersecting said grooves at an angle thereto, and a finger-catch pivoted to the stock within the trigger guard and having a projecting lug at its front end adapted ing the notch in the face of the under barrel when the other is brought into firing position,

substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a fire-arm, of a stock provided with hammer and trigger devices, two barrels having a common pivot relative to the stock and provided with notches 1), substantially as described, at the top and bottom faces, and a finger-catch pivoted to the under side of the stock and having its finger-hold c in rear of the trigger and provided with a projecting lug at its front end adapted to engage either of the notches when the barrels are rotated, substantially as set forth.

4:. The combination,in a fire-arm, of astock provided with hammer and trigger devices and having a forwardly-extending tongue, the barrels having a common pivot relative to the stock and provided upon the upper and under faces with transverse grooves a and intersecting notches I), the former engaged by said tongue, and a finger-piece pivoted to the stock and having its point adapted to engage the notches 12, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. ALSTON. lVitnesses:

W. W. ALSTON, W. I. WALLACE. 

